Spring suspension for vehicles



E. J. BUSHEY. SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, I919.

Patented July 27,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

E. J. BUSHEY.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1919.

Patented July 27, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES .ELI m iaUsHEY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed November 15, 1919.

To all whom it may con/cm Be it known that I, ELI JAY Brsnnr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of l\Ia'nhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Spring Suspensions for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in spring suspensions for vehicles, and more particularly to spring means connecting the chassis'of a motor vehicle with the rear axle.

The'invention has for its principal object the provision of means wherebythe chassis or frame of a vehicle and the springs in terposed between the frame and the rear axle may be adjusted relatively to each other to level the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring suspension for motor vehicles embodying a pair of leaf springs located at opposite sides of the vehicle and each connected at one end to the chassis and at the other end to the rear axle housing or bolster. and independently adjustable means connecting said springs intermediate their ends with the chassis whereby eitherside of the chassis may be adjusted vertically to compensate for variation in tension between the springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compound spring suspension means of the cantaliver type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compound spring suspension of the -cantaliver type having means for pivotally connecting the main spring intermediate its ends with the chassis, and for guiding the counter spring vertically, said means being adjustable in an up-and-down direction to vary the angular relation between the chassis .and the main and counter springs without varying the relation of the springs to each other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the improved suspension applied to a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line IIII of Fig. 3.; V

Fig. 3 an enlarged vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Figs. i to 7 detail views of parts'of the Specification of Letters Patent.

' outer member or plate 14.

Serial No. 338,339..

adjustable connectionbetween the spring suspending means and the chassis.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, l designates one of the side bars of the chassis of a motor vehicle which may be of any suitable construction; :2 designates the usual rear axle of the vehicle, and 3 designates the usual non-rotating disk-like brakesupporting portion of the axle housing located at the inner side of the usual brake drum.

Each of the disk-like portions '3 at the Patented July 27, 1920.

ends of the axle housing is connected with the adjacent side bar of the chassis by a compound sprlng suspension means, each of which comprises a mainmultiple-leaf spring 4 and a counter or supplemental multiple-leaf spring 5. The main leaf spring 4 is semi-elliptic, as shown, and is secured at its rear end at 6 to the axle housing 3, and connected at its forward end to the free lower end of the usual swinging shackle- T pivotally held to the side bar 1 of the chassis. The counter spring 5 is normally straight and is not placed under tension untilthe spring i hasfiexed a predetermined extent. The spring 5 is connected at its forward end to a pivoted shackle 8 held to side bar 1, and the rear end of the lower leaf of said spring extends loosely through a keeper 9 mounted on the housing 3 and rests on a roller 11 journaled in the keeper.

spring 5 from being pulled out of the keeper 9 when the spring is flexed.

The main spring 4 is pivotally supported midway its ends in a vertically adjustable saddle or support. This adjustable support comprises an inner plate or member 12 formed at its upper end with an outwardly projecting stub shaft or integral pivot bolt 13 having a reduced threaded outer end portion extending through an a erture in an he upper end of the plate 14 is held on the pivot bolt 13 bya suitable nut. and the lower ends of the members 12 and 14 are connected by a bolt 15 having a rotatable sleeve 16 mounted rests. The leaves of spring 4 are clamped against a pressure block 17, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the .bolt or shaft YB, by means of a pair of yokes or box until bumper 19 on the bumper 20, 60

clips 18 which also serve to clamp a rubber the spring will then be placed under tenbumper 19 against the under side of said sion andassist in supporting the load. spring. -A rubber bumper 20 is clamped What I claim is: a a

' vl5 upon the upper side of spring 5, beneath the '1. A spring, suspension for motor vebumper 19, by means of a pair of yokes or hicles comprising-a semi-elliptic main leaf box clips 21. A coil spring 22 is interposed spring connected at its ends with the frame between. the bumpers 19 and 20, with the and rear axle housing of the vehicle, an circular raised impact-receiving portionsof auxiliary leaf spring located under the V 10 the bumpers pro'ecting within the end 'con- 'main spring and spaced therefrom, said volutions thereofj v auxiliary spr' being shackled at one end The saddle or'support is adjustable bodto the vehicle rame and having a sliding ily up and down irelatively'to theside bar connectionlat its other end with the rear 1 of the, chassis, and is rigidly secured in axle housing, a saddle held to the frame I 15 adjusted position against the outer face of and surrounding said springs midway the a bracket 23. The bracket 23 is fixed to the ends thereof, said main spring being pivside bar 1 at an angle to said side bar, by otally supported in the saddle and the auxmeans of rivets or bolts 24 which pass ;iliary spring being free to move endwisely through ,a flange or projection 25 formed and -verticall relatively to the saddle, and

20 on the inner side of said bracket and exmeans contro led by the flexing of the main tending diagonally across the bracket. The spring to a predetermined extent for placadjacent faces of the bracket 23 and the ing the auxiliary s' ring under tension. plate 12 are provided with cooperating sets 2. A spring suspension for motor veof projections or teeth 26 and 27, respec-. hicles comprising a semi-elliptic main leaf 25 tively, adaptedto interlock with each other. spring connected at its ends with theframe The plate 12 is clampedag'ainst the bracket and rear axle housing of the vehicle, an 23 in its vertically adjusted position by auxiliary leaf spring located under the .means of a series of bolts 28 which pass main spring and spaced therefrom, said through vertically elongated slots 29 in the auxiliary spring'being shackled at one end T '3 plate 12 and through apertures. 30 in the to the vehicle frame and having a sliding bracket 23, the heads ofthe bolts lying in connection at its other=end withthe rear verticallyextendin grooves 31in plate 12. axle housing, a saddle held to the frame It will be obvious t at if'the'chassis should and surrounding said springs midway the ,list to one side owing to inequality in the ends. thereof, said mam spring being piv- 85 strength of the spring suspension devices otally supported in the saddle and the auxquired, to level the chassis, by ldosening the means contro at opposite sides of the vehicle, one of the iliary spring being free to move endwisely I saddles may be adjusted up or down, as reand verticallli relativel to the saddle, ed by the exing of the main nuts on the inner 'endsof bolts 28 vsufiispring to'apredetermined extent for plac- 40 ciently to permit the teeth 27 on plate 12 to mg the auxiliary spring under tension, and i be disengaged from teeth 26 on bracket 23, means whereby the saddle may be ad'u'sted whereupon the saddle may be shiftedup or upand downrelatively to the vehicle rame. down and the nuts on bolts 28 then tight- 1 3. The combination ,with a motor ve ened: to clamp plate12 of the saddle against hicle having a'rear's pring snspension of the 45 the bracket in'its adjustedposition; The cantaliver type, of means for adjusting slots 29 are made of sufficient lengthto pertheintermediate support ofthe spring susmit the necessary relative vertical movement pension up and down relatively to the body betweenthe plate 12 and bolts 28-. v ofthe vehicle.

" The saddle serves not onl as'a vertically i 4. The combination with the chassis and Y -"50"adjustablepivotal support. or the 'center of' rear axle housing of'a motor vehicle, of a the main spring 4, but also serves as a-guide semi-elliptic 'sprmgconnected at its for- .-for'thecounter or auxiliary spring 5. The ward end to the chassis and at its rear end j coil spring'22 is comparatively weak andis with the rear axle housing, and means held designed merely toresist upward movement to the chassis and adjustable up and down -55 of spring 5 due to jolting. of the vehicle, relatively thereto for pivotallysupporting and thus prevent chattering of the spring 5 the spring intermediate its ends. 4

on roller 16 when the vehicle is running Thiss ecification signed this thirty-first with-ga light load. It will be obvious that day of ctober, A. D. 1919.-

I if the-load is suflicientto-flex the spring 4 (EL; JAY BUSHEY. 

